I have a wide range of guitars and amps and play styles from classic rock to Indie, folk, Country, Americana, Blues, ambient, electronica....
If required, I can supply each track recorded with one close mic, one room mic, and one direct from the pick-up with no effects for you to re-amp at your will.

Just wrapped up a multi-song mix-engineering project with great results. Working with Jay, who also laid down a lot of the guitar tracks, is probably as close as you will get to the feeling of being in the studio together as you can get working remotely. He’s attentive, enthusiastic and patient, and most importantly very highly skilled at what he does. Sad it’s over. Looking forward to the next one.

Where do i begin? This was my first ever recording which meant that i was new to a lot of the 'ins & outs' of the recording world but Jay had the patience to guide me through the process with care... He added the most gorgeous guitar parts and mixed the track perfectly, The result was my first professional sounding song that i will always be proud of... i had a tight deadline and he delivered with time to spare. Thanks again Jay... until the next one!!

Jay put together a great sounding mix and took the project to a new level. Combination of great technical skill and artistry. Very easy to work with, tries hard and succeeds in listening to what you want and delivering.

I found Jay here on sound better.. now we've done quite a few tracks. I've worked with a ton of guitarist over the years and he is one that really listens and digests the brief, then brings back the perfect balance of his electric guitar sensibilities and the spirit of the project. I feel like he's a part of the band; I love having someone I can let go of the reins on and still trust that he cares as much as I do about the best for the song.

Really nice working with Jay again. Laid down the perfect guitar rhythm and lead tracks for two more songs. Delivered technically high quality files. Had great interest in the project and excellent communication.

Jay was briliant as usually! I have strange feeling he will kill me next time due to my wishes, but he said nothing and made the best track that I could only to wish. I will take Jay (if he will take me of course) anytime in future and I'll be proud to can work with him.

Jay is super down to earth nice person to work with. He went to great length to accommodate a lot of tweaks on a challenging project with me. Great musician! Let him do his own thing with your track and you might just be amazed by the results :)

Jay delivers great guitars with added creativity and across multiple styles. Very responsive and open to creative discussion, Jay translates vague verbal descriptions into wonderfully played guitar parts. Definitely someone I hope to work with again.

Really enjoy working with Jay. I respect what he does. It's not easy translating a brief into the part desired. He seemed to understand and translate my brief into beautiful tone, performance and energy. I'll be back for more.

Jay was a true professional and provided me not only everything I asked for (which was a lot) but also went above and beyond by really doing his research for me about achieving a particular sound. Would definitely use him again.

Jay Stapley was a pleasure to work with. A real pro. He really honed in on what I was wanting and made sure I got it. The part is performed with a energy, technique and creativity that I can't pull off myself. The tone sounds amazing and full of life. I couldn't be more satisfied with his work. It is a perfect fit.

Jay is FAST! And gives you exactly what you want. The project I hired him for had very little room for creative play, but I can't wait to turn him loose on something he can sink his teeth into. I could hear his style come through in his playing, and it's well honed. He'll rock it for you!

Again I will say it, the most amazing guitarist on SoundBetter. Don't pass up your chance to have Jay take your songs where you thought they couldn't go!!! Will work with him again VERY, VERY SOON!!!!!!!!!!!

Best guitarist I've ever worked with...hands down. Has great skill and tones to take your songs to that next level. Great guy with EXCELLENT communication. Great turnaround time as well. If you want the best for your work, and who doesn't, then you want Jay... point blank!!!

Jay is the consummate professional. He knew exactly where to play as well as where NOT to play. Fast turnaround and excellent communication. Have to write another track just to work with him again. Highly recommended!

Jay is a high skilled musician who plays with feeling and musicianship . He is positive and creative and keeps his deadlines. The audio quality of his recordings is excellent. I can really recommend him!

Working with Jay was an absolute breeze! He is a professional and it clearly shows in his meticulous playing! I also asked him to record a bit of "free reign" and wow, did he deliver! Will definitely use Jay on my future tracks/projects. HIGHLY recommended.

What can I say? Jay was awesome. He was clear with his proposal. He was into the process. He took care to do the things I asked him to do...with multiple mics for colour I might add...and he added some tasty ideas of his own.

I've worked with Jay in several different scenarios over the years, from being the guitarist on a record he was producing, to creating custom Kemper amplifier profiles for commercial sale. Jay's a sublime musician, very humble, and a pleasure to work with.

We have worked on several tours and albums with Jay over the years and he is one of our very favourite people. As a guitarist he can do it all but always puts the song first. A great musician and a warm, intelligent man.

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by Neil Watson

Jay is a genius. Very calm, very controlled, very precise. He throws his whole expertise at the job in hand, and makes sure that you come out of his studio very happy with the results. He sure knows what he's doing.

Met Jay whilst playing on Tubular Bells Live! at Colchester Institute recently and when the time came to update my prerecorded tracks for 'Electric Counterpoint' by Steve Reich I thought of Jay. Not only did it turn out to be a fun and relaxed 3 days of recording the tracks but the end product exceeded even my high expectations. Jay's depth of know

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by PIET PETROL

very good gutar and studio work ! thank you very much jay..for your great gutarsounds you give us...

I have worked on many sessions and gigs with Jay. He always brings great sounds and playing to the music and a really intelligent, positive approach. A sure bet

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by Chuck Sabo

I've just very recently had the pleasure of working with Jay again. His musical attitude & approach to each song is 'always' a joy to hear unfold!
He has great feel, and great ears for what's needed.
So do yourselves a favour, and get Jay involved in your song!

Interview with Jay Stapley, guitars & mixing

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Roger Waters "Radio KAOS" album and tour: it was a technically challenging tour and an early example of the marriage of computer and analog technology. I played guitar and guitar synths.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A recording of Steve Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" for a guitarist who performs it live, a library (production music) album of Ambient Electronica, a Rocktronica album, and acoustic EP for a local artist, and a new collection of my own material.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Chuck Sabo, Simon Edwards

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: It depends on the style/genre of music. If the project is Rock/Blues/Country/Folk/Acoustic, analog. For ambient/EDM, digital. I always use valve amps for electric guitars (even if I'm using the KPA, it goes into the power amp stage off a valve amp) and Neve 1073 mic pre-amps.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: When I'm working on your project I will believe in it as much as you do.

A: When can I have the tracks back? My answer? By the agreed deadline.
How many stages of revision do I get? Answer: 1, and after that we can negotiate, but I recommend that we Skype while I'm doing that revision.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it's easy.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What does this song mean to you?
What do you expect from me?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Trust us: there is a reason why we are all professionals.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: I've been a session musician for over 40 years, starting in London in the late 1970s and rolling with all the changes in that time. My starting point was simple: I'd do whatever I was asked, even if there was no money, because I'd meet other musicians, and other (paid) jobs would come out of those freebies.
My aim was always that when I left the session the artist/producer would say "what a great musician." Notice that distinction: I didn't say "guitarist," I said "musician."

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Clean, simple, powerful.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: David Bowie, but sadly that won't happen now... He always had an ear for great guitarists and his music was honest. He also had a reputation amongst musicians as being one of the good guys.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The equipment is only as good as the people on either end of it. Your bedside manner is as important as your technical skill.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Anything except Jazz and metal.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Being sensitive to the song.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I play the song, not the chart. I look for parts rather than just jamming along, and whatever I play is done with passion and belief: that combination of feel and accuracy is what makes for good recordings. I provide the client with one close-mic, one room mic, and one track direct from the guitar pickup so they can re-amp if they want to.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It depends on the job: for mixing I listen to the reference tracks and the client's rough mix, discuss their requirements and then get to work. First job is to put everything up and see what's on the tracks, then I start to build the mix around the vocal. I make a balance first, before touching EQ or compression.
For guitar sessions, I set up a suitable amp, play the song a few times (recording everything I do to catch those initial instictive ideas!) and then start refining the parts.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a studio with 2 live rooms, an acoustic piano (upright oblique-strung Erard) and lots of guitars/amps and odd stringed instruments such as a Timple, Banjolele, Autoharp, etc.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?